To have asked nanny to take her shoes off

sorry but wearing outside shoes indoors is minging. anyone that doesn't take their shoes off going into someone's house is just rude and brought up in a barn probably

I'm an accountant and visit clients' homes on a regular/weekly basis. I always offer to take off my shoes. After all, it's their "home" even if they operate a business from within it.

Obviously, I don't take off shoes at business premises such as offices, factories, warehouses, etc., or if the client has a separate home office (i.e. converted garage, garden office etc) which means I don't go in their home.

I'd say it's pretty much 50:50 as to whether clients are shoes on or shoes off. It's just common curtesy to comply with the homeowner's personal preference in their own home!

Me neither, bit rude actually.
No wonder she's not answering the phone, good nannies come at a premium she will be able to be picky, sounds like the husband would be the type to talk down to people. Probably once she started the job she would have a pair of slippers or something for indoors, but not for an interview

Well we may never know, as the interview was over a week ago

and the Op never returned

so we don't know if potential nanny did return the Op's calls/texts nor whether she declined / accepted the position...

Oh ! except it wouldn't be to decline/accept the position, there was to be a ( free ? ) taster session first...

DH and I remove shoes. I’d expect her to follow suit but I’d not ask her to for interview. For work I’d ask her to remove them though. Shoes carry all sorts of germs and muck and children come in to contact with carpets and floors often while playing etc so it’s a no brainier for me. I realise people can of course have different views on this but for me it’s shoes off.

I agree, last week we had a virgin tv installer, he put on the shoe covers he brought with him without us asking. A few weeks ago, same with a couple of blokes delivering our new suite. Tradesmen from decent firms seem to do it as routine these days.

I actually cant believe so many people think its ok to walk on carpet with shoes they have worn outside. I am definitely not a clean freak but taking your dirty shoes off before walking on carpet is standard practice like showering daily.

Many nannies on this thread.

Exactly this. We keep our shoes off in our house but if someone is visiting wearing sandals I don’t want their sweaty smelly feet (they do often smell!) or verrucas walking round my floors- if they’ve got socks i don’t mind but shoes are better on strangers from my perspective!

That’s very inappropriate for interview. Remember this is a potential employee with rights. When have you attended interview without shoes? Big red flag your OTT and don’t respect boundaries. She would I’m sure happily take shoes off if employed but who does that at interview?!

It essentially says to the guest that you think their shoes are grubby and dirty which isn't the case normally.

But people's shoes are grubby and dirty - it's nothing personal but the pavements are filthy!

I wouldn't have taken the job. Even though I don't allow shoes in my house I would never ask a guest to remove their shoes. I wouldn't expect to remove my shoes at a friend's or clients house either. If they asked.me to I'd think it was petty and probably just not bother going round again.
I think it's pretty rude tbh. It essentially says to the guest that you think their shoes are grubby and dirty which isn't the case normally. Yes if I'd been walking through mud before I arrived but I find it very rude indeed.

If she gets offended about taking her shoes off and this is one the reason she takes a dislike to you then you dodged a bullet. You need to have the right chemistry with the person especially if they are looking after your kids. For anyone who gets precious about something like this would mean that they don’t meet my hygiene standards and I wouldn’t want them to work for me. As the employer you set your rules and terms of employment. Clearly you need to be a good employer but taking your shoes off is a basic requirement.

How long has it been since the interview? It’s the weekend so maybe she’s not checking emails or is away? Give her until end of day Monday i would say, try calling incase she’s not getting your messsage.

I’m Irish and I never got asked to take my shoes off at someone’s home until I moved and lived in other countries. Maybe it’s cultural? I do it now automatically and have worked as a nanny in the past and most will ask to take shoes off at interview, usually only when there’s carpet which you said there was.

If she took offence it may have been more to do with how he said it than the request itself.

I can honestly say I have never been asked to take my shoes off in anyone’s house. Ever.

@PyongyangKipperbang
I don't actually know anyone with a prosthesis or a wheelchair user well enough to have them in my home.

If I was likely to often host someone that did, I'd likely ensure that the areas they would be in were hard floored so I could mop afterwards.

Not sure a hypothetical ( and quite low probability) situation is useful to the OPs question….

No one has answered this.....

I have a family member with a prosthesis that is really only safe for him with shoes on, its designed with certain shoes in mind. So what would you have him do?

As a PP said, if a wheelchair user came into your house, what would you have them do?

Sorry but I think asking anyone to take their shoes off as a visitor is bad manners.

Taking shoes when entering your house or someone's house is pretty normal nowadays! Your house, your rules! In my house we have "no outside shoes inside rule". My children automatically take their shoes off when visiting other peoples house. The vast majority of my visitors take their shoes without us having to ask. We always return the favour. I find outside shoes inside the house "yuk" 🤮! All that dog shit, vomit, dirt people walk on and bringing inside your lovely home and carpet... we love walking barefoot or with socks on.... Besides I vacumm but do not have the worry to mop my wooden floor so often, because they are kept clean. Only time to time to remove some dust or food stain.
If taking shoes off bothers her, she is not a good fit for you. Looking for someone who respects your house rules!

if you want her to take her shoes off when I’m your house then asking her at interview makes sense. If she’s not responding to you as she doesn’t want to work shoes off, you are probably not a mutual fit and it’s for the best

If I was going to someone’s house and I see them taking their shoes off, then I’d do the same,

Why can people not realise that there is no 'normal' here. Some households are shoes off, some are shoes on. Neither is right or wrong. Keeping on insisting that your way is the only way is weird and narrow minded.

If yours is the first 'shoes off' household that your prospective nanny has come across and it's enough to put her off accepting the job then she clearly doesn't have much life experience and probably isn't the right fit for your household anyway.